IF you want to carry out green home improvements, you could claim for up to £6,000 of free cash to help.
The government’s boiler upgrade scheme gives people financial help to replace old gas heating with greener technology.
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Gas, electric and oil heating systems are considered a big contributor to Britain’s carbon emissions.
The government now wants homes to replace these systems with heat pumps and is willing to offer cash incentives to encourage the change.
Heat pumps produce less carbon, and can also mean lower energy bills too.
The pumps work by extracting heat from the air outside and pushing it into the home.
There are different types of heat pumps, including air-source heat pumps, air-to-water systems and air-to-air systems.
There are also ground source heat pumps that take heat from underground by pumping water through it in pipes.
Buying and installing air pumps is not cheap.
Air sourced pumps prices for purchase and installation costs from £8,000 and up to £14,000, according to Energy Helpline.
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And ground source heat pumps start from £15,000 and go up to £25,000.
Prices will depend on the size of your home.
To help with these hefty costs you can apply for a grant through the boiler upgrade scheme.
How do I apply?
The government gives up to £6,000 to help cover the cost of a ground-source heat pump or £5,000 for an air source one.
If you live in a rural area, you can get up to £5,000 for a biomass boiler, which uses natural materials like wood pellets to power heating and hot water.
All the grants can be used for the cost of the appliance itself, as we as the installation costs. And you don’t have to pay the money back.
You don’t get the cash directly, you’ll need to find a heat pump installer registered with the scheme who will apply for the grant on your behalf.
The amount will then be discounted from your bill for the work.
You’ll have to cover any extra costs out of your own pocket.
However, the cash grant means you’ll pay an amount more in line with the costs of installing a traditional gas boiler – typically between £500 and £1,500.
But in the long-run, getting a heat pump installed could save as much as £1,975 on bills.
The scheme is available in England and Wales from now until 2025 and you’ll need to own the home to be eligible.
You must also be replacing an existing oil, gas or electric heating system.
And you can’t get a grant for a hybrid heat pump.
You can find an installer in your area here, and you’ll need to check with your chosen engineer that the work is eligible for the scheme.
When getting any work done, it’s always best to get several quotes so you can find a competitive price.
